Short Summary

Soviet President Nikolai Podgorny left Egypt for home yesterday (Friday May 29) after signing a 15-year friendship treaty between the two countries.

Description

Soviet President Nikolai Podgorny left Egypt for home yesterday (Friday May 29) after signing a 15-year friendship treaty between the two countries. It is the first such treaty the Soviet Union have signed with an Arab country, and Egypt is now assured of continuing economic help and military aid.

President Podgorny's visit and the subsequent treaty, according to news reports, indicates that the Soviet Union is satisfied that Egyptian President Sadat's recent purge of left-wing elements means no basic change in Cairo's policies.

VISNEWS cameraman Ken Ludlow was at Cairo airport to cover President Podgorny's departure.

SYNOPSIS: Cairo airport, Friday -- and the departure of Soviet President Nikolai Podgorny, seen off by Egyptian President Anwar Sadat after they had signed a 15-year friendship treaty between the two countries.

News reports say President Podgorny left satisfied at having achieved closer ties with Egypt and apparently re-assured that President Sadat's recent purge of left-wing elements meant no change in Cairo's basic policies. Egypt, for its part, has been assured of continuing Soviet economic help and military aid. It is the first such friendship treaty the Soviet Union has signed with an Arab country.

The treaty, which will be renewed every five years, specifically provides for the training of Egyptian personnel on Soviet weapons and the strengthening of Egypt's defence system. In a joint communique issued before the Soviet President's departure, the two sides reaffirmed their determination to get rid of what they called "Israeli Aggression" as soon as possible.